Viewing Source Code

The term Source Code comes from the world of computer programming, and refers to an original text file that contains the programming commands in human readable format. This 'code' is used to produce something else. The 'source code' for an HTML file is the 'programming code' that produces a web page. The web page doesn't display the source code (the HTML), only the contents of the actual page are shown.

You can PEEK at the source code at any time. It's in every web page and every browser will let you see it. If you are trying to learn HTML, one good way is to see how other people do it. The source code for ANY PAGE can be seen by doing the following:

INTERNET EXPLORER

1. Pull down the VIEW menu
2. Select "SOURCE" (This works unless you are looking at a frameset).

OR

1. Right click with the mouse on the page. Make sure you don't click on a hand or an image. Pick a clear place in the page.
2. Select "VIEW SOURCE". This shows you the actual page source.

NETSCAPE

1. Pull down the VIEW menu
2. Select "PAGE SOURCE"

OR

1. Right click on the page (where there isn't an image or a link).
2. Select "Page Source" or "Frame Source" **

** Sometimes with Netscape, you will also have a 'view frameset

Viewing the source code of a web page will allow you to learn some REALLY cool things about a good looking web page, so do all the viewing you want. It's how you get to see the skeletons in everyone else's closet.